Load handling apparatus



FL K. FLYNN ET AL.

LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS July 20, 1948.

-4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept 5, 1945 'INVENTORS Flumus Ka l-van 1 Recon: H. An:

ATTORNEY y 0, 1948. F. K. FLYNN ET AL 5,614

- 7 Low amn'nnm APPARATUS Filed Sept.. 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS BY Raul-an H. A'nzLMAn ATTORNEY Fiumus K. FLYNN 4 y 1948- F. K. FLYNN ET AL 2,445,614

LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS.

INVENTORS Fmmus .K. FLYNN 4 AT TOR" E-Y July 20, 1948. F. K. FLYNN El AL I 2,445,614

' LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 19% Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS: Fume K FLYNN 1,

BY REUBEN H A0528 A N ATTORNEY Patented July 20, 1948 UNITED s'ra'rss LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS Francis K. Flynn and Reuben H. Adelman, New York, N. 1., assignors, by meme assignments, to Silent Hoist b Crane 00., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 5, 1945, Serial No. 614,566

18 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to loadhandling apparatus.

, One object of this invention is to provide loadhandliug apparatus which is highly flexible in use in the sense that it can be easily adapted, by a simple change, for use either as a crane having a boom equipped with a load-hoist line, or as load-handling apparatus of the type which is provided with a tiering frame equipped with a vertically movable carriage supporting a load platform or other load-carrying devices.

Another object of the invention is generally to provide an industrial truck which can be used for raising or lowering loads by means of a live boom or by means of a vertically movable load platform.

Another object is to provide load-handling apparatus, preferably of the truck type, with a pivotally movable tiering frame, with a crane-boom demountably supported between its opposite ends on the tiering frame for pivotal movement thereon, and with means preferably a double acting ram, selectively connectable operatively either to the boom, for pivotally moving the latter, or to the tiering frame for tilting the latter in the.

load-handling operations thereof when the boom is dismounted from the tiering frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide the load-handling apparatus with power-operated means for actuating the hoist line drum 'and the actuating means for operating the load carrlage of the tiering frame, and with means for operatively connecting said power operated means selectively either to said drum, for operating the load hoist line of the crane-boom, or to said load carriage actuating means for operating the load carriage of the tiering frame.

A further object is the construction and arrangement of the load platform in relation to an extensible tiering frame and the provision of means for operating the load platform on the tiering frame whereby to raise and lower the load platform without relative movement of the relatively movable tiering frame members, under conditions where the extension of the tiering frame is either unnecessary or undesirable, or to raise the load platform as a unit with one of the tiering frame members for extending the frame to enable the load platform to be raised to a desired high level.

The above and other obiects, features and ad; vantages of the present invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings. a

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a truck embodying the present invention, the boom being mounted on the tiering frame and the ram being connected to the boom;

Fig. 2 is a side view, on a larger scale, of the forward part of the truck, the boom being removed and the ram being connected to the tiering frame;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the tiering frame and the load-carriage in the fully extended condition of the tiering frame;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of 1'18. 3:

Fig. dis a front view of the apparatus with parts omitted for illustrative purposes.

Referring now 'to the drawings in detail, the apparatus of the present invention is illustrated as applied to an automotive vehicle or truck which is preferably, but not necessarily, of the front-drive type. As here shown, the truck is provided with the front-drive wheels II and the rear steering wheels 12, as'shown, for example, in United States Patent No. 2,223,863 granted December 3, 1940 to Joseph W. Wunsch. A vertical tiering frame or standard it, hereinafter 1 more particularly described, is mounted at its lower end for pivotal movement about a horizonon a shaft ll located forwardly of and below the stationary front axle it of the front wheels II.

A crane-boom 2| is demountably supported between its opposite ends for pivotal movement on the upper part of the outer tiering-frame section 22, the pivot pin for said boom being indicated at 24. More particularly, as here shown, boom 23 is pivotally mounted on a cross member it which is removably secured to the channels or laterally spaced-uprights 28 of the outer tieringframe section 22 in any suitable way, as by bolts II, which engage brackets ll fixed to uprights It. It will be understood that the boom 2. may be of any suitable co truction. Said boom is provided with a hoist line I! which is reeved over the pulleys It and It and which is provided with a hook 3' adapted to releasablyengage the load for raising and lowering the same. Hoist line 33- is operated, in a well-known way, by a winding drum ll (Fig. 5) positioned on the vehicle body. It will be understood that the hoist line 32 may be removed from the boom and wound on the drum II for stowing of the hoist line when the boom is dismounted from the apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention, power-operated means which, as here shown, is preferably a double-acting fluid-pressure motor or ram 42, supplied with fluid from any suitable 2 source, is selectably connectable either to the when the boom is dismounted from said frame;

Fig. 1 shows the ram 42 operatively connected to the boom 20, and also shows by dotted lines that said ram may be connected to the tiering frame. Fig. 2 shows the ram operatively connected to the tiering-frame I 4, the boom being removed. More particularly, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the upper end'of the piston rod 44 of ram 42 is pivotally connected detachably to the adjacent end of the boom by means illustrated as a removable pivot pin 46. When the boom is removed from tiering-frame I4, the upper end of piston rod 44 may be connected detachably to the tiering-frame I4, more particularly to the outer tiering-frame section 22. The means provided for this purpose is illustrated as a pivot pin 48 which is releasably engaged ina pair of laterally spaced bracket arms 50 carried. by the cross member 52 secured to outer tiering-frame section 22 near the upper part thereof. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cylinder of the ram has its upper end substantially closer to the upper part of the tiering-frame than to the lower end thereof and that said part of the frame and the part of the boom to which the ram may be connected are sufficiently close to each other to enable and facilitate the operative connection of the ram either to said frame or to the boom. It will be noted that ram 42 is, pivotally mounted at one end thereof, namely, at its lower end, on the body of the vehicle as indicated at 54 and extends upwardly therefrom, and that the opposite end of the ram, namely, the upper end of piston rod 44 projects upwardly from the opposite end of the cylinder and is adapted to be connected alternatively either to the boom or to the tiering frame. More specifically, as here shown, the lower end of the cylinder '6, in which the piston 58 is reciprocable, is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the pivotal axes of the boom and of the tiering frame and located rearwardly of said axes. The pipe inlets to the cylinder of the ram are inducted at 51 in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be understood that suitable valve control means (not shown) is provided on the vehicle within convenient reach of the operator thereof, for effecting controlled movement of piston 58 in either direction for obtaining the desired extent and direction of pivotal movement of the boom when the latter is mounted on the tiering frame or of the tiering frame when the boom is dismounted therefrom. Also, it will be understood that piston 58 of the ram is operated by incompressible liquid and is therefore releasably held in fixed adjusted position longitudinally of the cylinder under the control of the valve control meanswhereby to hold either the boom or the tiering frame releasably in adjusted fixed position on their respective supports. It will be understood that when the boom is mounted on the tiering frame and the ram is connected to the boom, the tiering frame is held against pivotal movement in any suitable way, for example, by the detach-able rigid link 59 (Fig. 1) connected at its opposite ends to said frame and to a stationary part of the vehicle.

Referring now more particularly to the tiering-frame I4, it will be noted that the laterally spaced uprights 20 of the outer section 22 of the tiering-frame are provided with rearwardly extending brackets 00 including the companion bearing members 82 and 04 by which the tieringframe is mounted at the lower part thereof for pivotal movement on shaft I8. Said frame-supporting shaft I0 is supported at its opposite ends in the brackets 06. which are secured to the supporting plates 50 fastened to the vehicle body at the opposite sides thereof. It will be observed that the back of the tiering-frame is spaced forwardly of the supporting plates 00 to allow for the backward tilting of said frame from its normal vertically'upright position. As hereinbefore indicated, the tiering frame is extensible, said frame includingan inner frame section I0 which is movable longitudinally of outer frame section 22 in telescoping relation therewith. For this purpose, inner frame section 10 includes the laterally spaced channels or uprights 12 pro-- vided with rollers 14' which engage and are guided by the companion channels 28 of outer frame section 22. A load-carriage I6 is mounted for movement longitudinally of the tieringframe at the front thereof. More specifically, load-carriage I5 is provided with rearwo/rdly extending laterally spaced plates I0 which carry rollers in engagement with and guided by the channels I2 of inner frame section I0. Liftforks 82, which form a load platform, are pivotally mounted at their upper ends 04 on a transverse shaft 88 mounted on the load-carriage whereby said lift-forks are movable from their operative or load-lifting positions illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to their inoperative or stowed positions illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1.

The load-carriage I6 is attached in any suitable way to sprocket chains 00 which are operable to raise or lower said carriage. Said sprocket chains 08, which are of the endless type. engage with and are driven by companion sprocket wheels 89 carried by a sleeve 00 journalled for rotation on shaft IE. Said chains also engage companion sprocket wheels 9I mounted on cross member 52 of the outer tiering-frame section 22, sprocket wheels 92, 94 and 95 mounted on the lower part of inner frame section I0 and sprocket wheels mounted on the upper partof said inner frame section. Said sprocket chains thus provide a vertically movable conveyor for the load-carriage. Sleeve 80 is rotated by the sprocket chain I00 which is driven by the double sprocket wheel I02 and engages the double sprocket wheel I04 carried by said sleeve, said sprocket chain being also in engagement with guide sprocket wheels I05 and I08. The double sprocket Wheel I02 is mounted for rotation on a rotary shaft I08 on which the winding drum for the hoist line of the crane-boom is mounted for rotation. A movable clutch member H0 is splined to shaft I08 for rotation therewith and for movement longitudinally thereof into engagement selectively either with the companion clutch member II2 of winding drum 40 or with the companion clutch member II4 of double sprocket wheel I02.

Shaft I08 is driven in either direction by power-operated means IIG comprising reversible.

clutch member IIO may be shifted by any suitable means within convenient reach of the operation of the vehicle for engaging said clutch member alternatively either with the drum-clutch member H2 or with the sprocket-wheel clutch member HI. Thus, the power-operated means I I6 which rotates shaft ")8 is operatively connectable selectively either to thewinding drum 40, for operating the hoist line 32, or to the double sprocket wheel I02 which constitutes means to actuate the sleeve 90 for operating the sprocket chains 88 by which the load-carriage is raised or lowered.

- It will be understood that when sprocket chains 88 are operatedv to raise the load-carriage 16 from its lower Or retracted position toward its upwardly projected position said carriage first moves longitudinally of inner section Ill of the tiering-frame until the load-carriage engages the upper part of the inner section III of the tiering frame after which said load-carriage, continuing to move in the same direction, is effectiveto raise said inner section upwardly in the outer section 22 of the tiering-frame. It is apparent that the inner section 10 of the tier-frame moves downwardly from its projected position toward its retracted position simultaneously with the lowering of the load-carriage 16.

Thus, it is seen that the load-handling apparatus of the present invention is well adapted to accomplish the several'objects thereof, and in particular, it is apparent that said apparatus is highly flexible in that it is readily adaptable to the handling of loads in various ways, namely,

either as a crane-boom or as apparatus, of the tiering frame type, which includes a load-carriage which may be raised and lowered and also tilted forwardly or rearwardly to insure the proper positioning of the load on the load platform. It will be observed that an important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of means, constituted preferably by a double acting ram, operatively connectable either to the boom or to the tiering frame either for pivotally moving the crane-boom, when the boom is positioned on the tiering frame, or for tilting the tiering frame when the boom is not mounted thereon. It is apparent that ordinarily the crane-boom is dismounted from the tiering-frame when it is desired to utilize the latter for handling the loads, but it will be understood that it is within the scope of the present invention to operate the loadcarriage, without dismounting the boom from the tiering-frame, to the extent allowed by the movement of the load-carriage longitudinally of the inner section ll] of the tiering-frame without movement of the latter in relation to the outer tiering-frame section 22.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be parts may be omitted without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a load handling apparatus which comprises a vehicle provided with a tiering frame having a vertical frame section mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, poweroperated means mounted on the body of the vehicle and operatively connected to said frame section at the upper part thereof for pivotally moving the same, the connection between said power-operated means and said frame section being detachable for disconnecting said means from said frame, a crane-boom, and means for supporting said crane-boom between its opposite ends at thetop of said frame in position for pivotal movement on said tiering frame, said power-operated means, when detached from said frame, being operatively connectable to said boom for pivotally moving the latter when it is mounted on said frame.

2. In a load handling apparatus which comprises a vehicle provided with a tiering frame having a vertical frame section mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis located forwardly of and parallel to the front axle of the vehicle, power-operated means mounted on the body of the vehicle and operatively connected to said frame section at the upper part thereof for pivotally moving the same, the connection between said power-operated means and said frame section being detachable for disconnecting said means from said frame, a crane-boom, and means for demountably supporting said crane-boom between its opposite ends at the top of the frame in position for pivotal movement on said-frame member at the upper part thereof, said poweroperated means, when detached from said frame, being operatively connectable to said boom for pivotally moving the latter when it is mounted on said frame member.

3. In a load handling apparatus which comprises a vehicle provided with a tiering frame having a vertical frame section mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, poweroperated means mounted on the body of the vehicle and operatively connected to said frame section at the upper part thereof for pivotally moving the frame, the connection between said power-operated means and said frame section being detachable for disconnecting said means from said frame, a crane-boom and means for demountably supporting said crane-boom between its opposite ends at the top of said frame in position for pivotal movement on said frame section at the upper part thereof, said poweroperated means, when detached from said frame, being operatively connectable to said boom for pivotally moving the latter when it is mounted on said frame section, said power-operated means comprising a fluid-pressure motor having a cylinder extending upwardly from the body of the vehicle and pivotally mounted at one end thereof on the body of the vehicle for pivotal movement toward and away from said frame about a horizontal axis located rearwardly of and parallel to the pivotal axes of said frame section and said boom, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, and a piston rod projecting upwardly from the opposite end of said cylinder for connection to said frame section or to said boom.

4. In a load handling apparatus which comprises a vehicle provided with a tiering frame having a vertical frame section mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, poweroperated means mounted on the body of the vehicle and operatively connected to said frame section at the upper part thereof for pivotally moving the frame, the connection between said poweroperated means and said frame section being detachable for disconnecting said means from said frame, a crane-boom, and means for demountably supporting said crane-boom between its opposite ends at the top of said frame in posi-- tion for pivotal movement on said frame section at the upper part thereof, said power-operated actuating means.

5. In a load handling apparatus of the lifttruck type, a tiering frame mounted on the truck for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. a crane-boom demountably supported between its opposite ends on said frame for pivotal movement thereon about a horizontal axis located above and parallel to said first mentioned axis, a double acting ram mounted on the truck, and means for operatively connecting said ram detachably either to a part of said boom or to a part of said frame whereby said ram is operable either to pivotally move said boom on said frame or to pivotally move said frame, in the-operation thereof for handling the load, when said boom is removed from said frame, said frame and boom parts being sufficiently close to each other, when the boom is mounted on said frame, to enable said operative connection of said ram to either of said parts.

6. In a load handling apparatus comprising a vehicle, a vertical tiering frame mounted on said vehicle for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a crane-boom demountably supportedbetween its opposite ends on said frame for pivotal movement thereon about a horizontal axis located above and parallel to said first mentioned axis, a double acting ram mounted on said vehicle, and

means for operatively connecting said ram detachably either to said boom or to said frame whereby said ram isoperable either to pivotally move said boom on said frame or to pivotally move said frame, in the operation thereof for handling the load, when said boom isremoved from said frame, said frame and boom parts being sumciently close to each other, when the boom is mounted on said frame, to enable said operative connection of said ram to either of said parts.

to said pivotal axis of the boom, and means for operatively connecting the opposite end of said ram detachably either to a part of said boom or to a part of said frame for positively-moving upper part of said tiering frame, means for re-- movably connecting said crane-boom to said tiering frame for said pivotal movement thereon, and means on the truck selectively connectable operativelyeither to a part of said crane-boom or to a part of said frame for pivotally moving the former when it is mounted on the tiering frame or for tilting the latter, in the operation thereof for handling the load, when the crane-boom is not positioned thereon. v

9. In a load handling apparatus of the lifttruck type, a vertical tiering frame carried by the truck and comprising an outer frame section mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis located at the lower part of the frame and I an inner frame section mounted for movement longitudinally of said outer section and for pivotal movement as a unit therewith, a crane-boom supported removably by said tiering frame section at the upper part thereof for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a hoisting cable provided on said boom, a winding drum for saidcable, means operable to move said inner tiering frame section longitudinally of said outer frame section, when said boom is not positioned thereon, means on the truck for actuating said frame-moving means, power-operated means, means on the truck for operatively connecting said power-operated means either to said winding drum, for oper ating the latter, or 'to said actuating means for operating the latter to actuate said frame-moving means, and means on the truck selectively connectabl operatively either to said crane-boom or to said frame for pivotally moving the former when it is mounted on the tiering frame or for tilting the latter in the operation thereof for handling the load when the crane-boom is not positioned on said frame.

10. In a load handling apparatus of the lifttruck type, a vertical tiering frame carried by the truck and comprising an outer frame section and an inner frame section mounted for movepivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a hoisting cable provided on said boom, a winding drum for said cable, means operable to move said inner frame section longitudinally of said outer frame section when said boom is not positioned thereon, means for actuating said frame-moving means, power-operated means, and means on the truck for operatively connecting said power-operated means either to said winding drum, for operating the latter, or to said actuating means for operating the latter to actuate said frame-moving means.

11.;In a load handling vehicle of the automotive type, a vertical tiering fram mounted at its lower end at the front of the vehicle for forward'and backward tilting movement about a horizontal axis' extending laterally of the frame, a crane- -j boom removably supported between its ends in either said boom or said frame-,sald frame'and boom parts being sufliciently close to each other,"

when the boom is mounted on said frame, to.

enable said operative connection of said ram to either of said parts.

a. In a load handling apparatus, of them;

truck type, the combination with .a vertical tiering frame mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis located substantially at the lower end of the frame, of a crane-boom sup-v ported by said tiering frame in position for pivotal" movement about a horizontal axis locatedat the position on said frame for pivotal movement thereon in a vertical plane transversely of said axis, and means carried by the vehicle and operativelyconnectable selectively either to said crane-boom or to said tiering frame for pivotally moving, sjaidboom, when the latter is positioned "on the frame, or for tilting said tiering frame,

in 'the operation thereof for handling the load, when said boom is not positioned on said frame.

12.111 a load handling vehicle of the automotive type, Ia vertical tiering frame mounted at its lower end at the front of the vehicle for forward 9 and backward tilting movement about a horizontal axis extending laterally of the frame, a crane-boom demountably supported between its ends on said frame for pivotal movement thereon in a vertical plane transversely of said axis, means carried by the vehicle and operatively connectable selectively either to said crane-boom boom, when the latter is positioned on the frame, or for tilting said tiering frame, when said boom is not positioned on said frame, said tiering frame being provided with load-carrying means movable thereon and said crane being provided with a load hoisting cable, a drum on said vehicle for operating said cable, actuating means mounted on said vehicle and operatively connected tosaid load-carrying means for moving the latter on the frame, and power-operated means selectively connectable operatively either to said drum or to said actuating means.

13. In a load handlingv vehicle of the automotive type, a vertical tiering frame mounted at its lower end at the front of the vehicle, a craneboom supported between its ends on said frame for pivotal movement thereon in a vertical plane transversely of said axis, means carried by the vehicle and operatively connected to said boom for pivotally moving the boom, said tiering frame being provided with load-carrying means movable thereon independently of said boom and said crane being provided with a load-hositing cable, a drum on said vehicle for operating said cable,

' or to said tiering frame for pivotally moving said said axis, means operatively connected to said boom for pivotally moving the boom, said tiering frame being provided with load-carrying means movable thereon independently of said boom and said crane being provided with a load-hoisting cable, said carriage beingmovable in said frame, a drum on said vehicle for operating said cable, actuatingmeans operable independently of said cable, and operatively connected to said loadcarrying means for moving the latter on the frame, and power-operated means selectively connectable operatively either to said drum or to said actuating means.

17. In an industrial lift-truck having a pivotally movable vertical tiering frame, a craneboom pivotally mounted on the upper part of said tiering frame for pivotal movement in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis, a doubleacting ram pivotally mounted on the truck and having its. cylinder extending upwardly therefrom to a point which is substantially closer to said upper part of the frame than to the lower part thereof, and means for connecting the pisactuating means mounted on said vehicle and operatively connected to said load carrying means for moving the latter on the frame, and power-operated means selectively connectable operatively either to said drum or to said actuating means.

14. In a load handling apparatus which comprises a vehicle having a vertical tiering frame mounted thereon, a crane-boom mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a lift-fork carriage movable insaid frame whether or not the boom is mounted on said frame, means on said vehicle operatively connected to said carriage for moving the latter in said frame, and a double acting ram operatively connected to said boom for releasably preventing pivotal movement of said boom in either of two directions on said frame.

15. In a load handling vehicle of the automotive type. a vertical tiering frame mounted at its lower end at the front of the vehicle, a craneboom supported on said frame for pivotal movement thereon in a vertical plane transversely of said axis, means for pivotally moving the boom, said tiering frame being provided with a liftingfork carriage operable independently of said boom and said crane being provided with a loadhoisting cable, said carriage being movable in said frame, a drum on said vehicle for operating said cable, sprocket-chain means operatively connected to said load carriage for moving the latter, driving means for said sprocket-chain means, and power operated means selectively connectable operatively either to said drum or to said driving means.

18. In a load handling vehicle of the automotive type, a vertical tiering frame mounted at its lower end at the front of the vehicle, a craneboom supported on said frame for pivotal movement thereon in a vertical plane transversely of winch for operating ton rod of said ram, at a point above said cylinder, alternatively either to the upper part of said tieri'ng frame, when the latter is used for handling the load, or to said boom when the latter is mounted on said frame, for tilting said frame and topping said boom, respectively.

18. In an industrial lift-truck having a pivotally movable vertical tiering frame, acraneboom pivotally mounted on the upper part of said tiering frame for pivotal movement in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis, a double-acting ram pivotally mounted on the truck and having its cylinder extending upwardly therefrom to a point which is substantially closer to said upper part of the frame than to the lower part thereof, and means for connecting the piston rod of said ram, at a point above said cylinder, alternatively either to the upper part of said tiering frame, when the latter is used for handling the load, or to said boom when the latter is mounted on said frame, for tilting said frame and topping said boom, respectively, said boom being provided with a hoist line and the truck being provided with a said hoist line.

FRANCIS K. FLYNN. REUBEN H. ADEIMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain a"... Alli. 36, 1933 

